Press Releases
Government Welcomes Industry Action to Tackle Irresponsible Drinking
Ministers have welcomed a package of measures announced by the alcohol industry targeted at tackling irresponsible drinking. The package includes a series of measures that are being taken forward by different companies and organisations across the industry:
Read MoreACS Chief Executive Hails Groundbreaking Assured Advice Scheme
At a conference of business groups and local authorities, ACS Chief Executive James Lowman has heralded the benefits of ACS’ new Primary Authority partnership.
The ‘primary authority’ scheme, one of the first to be established in the country, is a new partnership between Surrey County Council and ACS. The scheme is made possible by a change in the law that came into force on 1 October 2013, with the development of primary authority for trade associations supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Read MoreACS Welcomes Ofgem Energy Market Referral
ACS has welcomed Ofgem’s decision to refer the energy market to the Competition and Markets Authority.
The investigation, which is due to commence immediately, will look at the following areas:
Read MoreACS: Government Must Consider Retail Impact of Standardised Tobacco Packaging
ACS has committed to pressing the Government to consider the significant burden that standardised tobacco packaging will impose on tens of thousands of local shops. Today, Ministers have published the consultation on introducing this measure in the UK.
Read MoreLocal Shops Welcome Small Business Bill
Local shops have welcomed the publication of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.
Published today by the Department for BIS, the Bill aims to remove barriers to growth for small firms, strengthen the foundations for a sustainable recovery, and create jobs.
Measures proposed in the Bill include:
Read MoreBoles: Councils May Have Been Swayed by Out of Town Job Claims
Communities and Local Government Minister Nick Boles MP has attributed the increase in out of town development to local councils being ‘swayed’ by supermarket job creation claims during the recession.
Read MoreMPs Urged to Stand Up for High Streets ahead of Out of Town Debate
MPs have been urged to stand up for their high streets and town centres ahead of a debate on the impact of out of town retail parks, due to take place today.
The Westminster Hall debate, Planning and out of town supermarket expansion, will be led by John Pugh, Liberal Democrat MP for Southport.
Read MoreNew Report Reveals How We Really Feel about our Nation's High Streets
A new report released today has revealed how people really feel about the shops and services on their high streets, and what needs to be done to make those high streets successful again.
The ACS Community Barometer looks at what consumers, shop owners and local councilors think about the services in their local area, what they want more (or less) of, and what they believe Government and councils should be doing to give local shops on high streets the best chance to thrive.
Read MoreACS Calls on Low Pay Commission To Resist Politicised Minimum Wage
The Business Secretary has provided instructions to the Low Pay Commission setting the remit for its review and recommendations for the national minimum wage rates in 2015. In the remit the Minister has called for the Commission to ‘look at whether the economy is strong enough to support above inflation rises.’
Read MoreGovernment Urged to Reconsider Plan for Small Business Exemption from Carrier Bag Charge
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has urged Ministers to reconsider after they have dismissed calls from an influential Committee of MPs to apply a 5p charge to all shops in England that give out single use carrier bags
The Ministers set out their view in the response to the report of the Environmental Audit Committee of the House of Commons, which was published today.
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